Accommodation Options for Travellers - Minister for …...Accommodation Options for Travellers...

Accommodation Options

for Travellers

Printed on recycled paper

A Guide to the Accommodation

Options Available to Travellers

Accommodation Options for Travellers

Government Policy on Accommodation 1

2. Government Policy in relation to Traveller accommodation 3

3. Private Ownership 5

- Grants for house purchase 7

4. Assistance from Local Authority for the provision of accommodation 8

- Low Cost Sites 9- Local Authority Loans for House

Purchase 9- Shared Ownership Scheme 9- Tenant Purchase Scheme 13- Mortgage Allowance Scheme 14- Local Authority Mortgages 16- Loan and Grant Scheme for the

Purchase of Caravans 16

5. Local Authority Loans for Improvements and Repairs 20

- Local Authority Loans for House Improvement 21

- Local Authority Improvement Works in Lieu 21

- Disabled Persons Grants 22- Overcrowded Conditions 22


CONTENTS

i

6. Rented Accommodation 23

7. Direct Provision of Accommodation by the Local Authority 24

- Standard Housing 24- Residential Caravan Parks 24- Temporary/Transient Halting Sites 24- Group Housing Schemes 25

8. A Guide to Voluntary Organisations 26

- Capital Assistance Scheme 26- Grants for Communal Facilities 27- Rental Subsidy Scheme 27- Rents 28- Low Cost Sites 29- Group Shared Ownership Projects 29- Housing Co-Operatives 30- Approved Voluntary Bodies 30- Rural Resettlement Programme 32- Irish Council for Social Housing 34- National Association for Building 34

Co-operatives Society Ltd (NABCo)

Appendix 1 35Information Leaflets in the Social Housing and Planning series 35

Appendix II 37Addresses and phone numbers of organisationsmentioned in this guide. 37


ii

The overall aim of Government policy is to enable every household to

have available an affordable dwelling of good quality, suited to its

needs, in a good environment, and, as far as possible, at the tenure of

its choice.

This policy acknowledges clearly the role of all tenures in the

accommodation system - social rented and private rented as well as

owner-occupied. The general strategy for realising the overall policy

aim is that those who can afford to do so should provide

accommodation for themselves, with the aid of the fiscal incentives

available, and that those unable to do so from their own resources

would have access to social accommodation or income support to rent

private accommodation.

The overall aim is underpinned by a number of strategies:

• Oversee and maintain an appropriate and sustainable national

housing programme and an efficient housing market

• Facilitate home ownership for the greatest possible number of

those households who desire and can afford it through an

appropriate range of fiscal and other measures

1


1. Government Policy on Accommodation

• Develop and support a responsive, diverse and well managed

social housing sector for those who cannot afford suitable

accommodation from their own resources

• Develop and maintain a framework for an efficient private

rented sector as an essential part of the housing system

• Develop and support appropriate measures to secure the

conservation and improvement of the housing stock, both

public and private, with particular emphasis on the needs of

low income households and rundown local authority estates.


2

The Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act, 1998, obliges each of the

major local authorities to adopt and implement by 31 March, 2000, a

five year plan for the provision of accommodation for Travellers in

their functional areas. The accommodation to be provided (i.e.

standard local authority housing, group housing schemes, permanent

residential caravan parks and transient halting sites) together with a

diverse range of financial incentives, set out a three pronged approach

to providing a wide range of options for Traveller accommodation as

follows:

• assistance and incentives for Travellers to build, purchase or

improve the private home of their choice

• the direct provision by local authorities of a range of Traveller

appropriate accommodation. This is accommodation designed

around the distinct needs of Travellers and includes standard

local authority housing, group housing, residential caravan

parks, transient and temporary halting sites

• a range of assistance and supports to the voluntary sector to

provide, for rent, a range of accommodation options.


3

2. Government Policy in relation toTraveller Accommodation

To assist you in identifying what options are open to you, this guide

describes the possibilities for a range of situations in which Travellers

may find themselves. The information given is in summary form only,

and once you have identified the circumstances which are closest to

your situation you should obtain further details of the options from the

relevant information leaflets available from the appropriate public

authority e.g. your local authority, the Department of the Environment

and Local Government, the Revenue Commissioners, the local health

board, voluntary body, etc.

The information contained in this guide and the social housing leaflets

will also be of benefit to those advisory and support groups concerned

with assisting Travellers in being accommodated. Such groups may

also wish to avail of the assistance for approved voluntary bodies in the

direct provision of accommodation for Travellers.


4

The most commonly availed of option for families, with the necessary

resources, is to purchase a new or second hand home or to purchase a

site, obtain the necessary planning permission and build according to

your requirements. Finance for either of the above options is normally

provided from one’s own resources including a loan/mortgage from

the commercial lending agencies.


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3. Private Ownership

The major considerations with these options are -

Buying a house Building a house

- Locating a suitable property - Acquiring a site

- Funding including - Obtaining planning

Deposit permission

Grants - Building to the

Loans minimum

Financial incentives standards to enable

- Legal Procedures payment of any

grant available

- Funding (as for

buying)

- Legal Procedures

What financial assistance is available from the Government/Public

Authorities?

• Tax relief on mortgage interest at the standard rate of tax

• Exemption from Stamp Duty on new houses for owner

occupiers

• Absence of Tax on Residential Property

• Tax/investment incentives in designated urban areas

• First time buyer’s grant of £3,000 available when buying or

building a new house

• Special Traveller’s grant of £3,000 available whether the house

is new or second hand

• Local authority loans/mortgages/subsidies to assist Travellers

in obtaining and repaying a loan.

Further details on these reliefs may be obtained from your Inspector of

Taxes/the Revenue Commissioners/Department of the Environment

and Local Government/Your Local Authority.


6

3.1 Grants for the purchase or building of a house

New Houses

A grant of £3,000 is payable by the Department of the Environment and

Local Government upon the purchase of a new house built tothe

required standards by persons who have never previously bought or

built a house for their own occupation. The grant is from £3,500 to

£4,000 if you are primarily resident in a Gaeltacht area and Irish is the

spoken language of your household. In addition, Travellers are also

entitled to a special grant of £3,000 from their local authority when

purchasing or building a new house. Therefore total assistance in this

case ranges from £6,000 to £7,000. The new house grant is payable

following completion and occupation of the house.

Second-hand House Purchase

Some Travellers may prefer to purchase a second-hand house. In this

case the Traveller is entitled to the special grant of £3,000 from the local

authority towards the purchase of the second hand house for his/her

own occupation where he/she has not owned a house previously. This

does not apply to Traveller tenants in local authority housing who

purchase their homes under tenant purchase schemes, where separate

conditions and discounts apply.


7

To qualify for assistance from the local authority towards buying or

building your own house, you must satisfy one of the following

criteria:

• your application for local authority housing has been approved

by the local authority, or

• you are a tenant or tenant purchaser of a local authority house

who wishes to return the house to the local authority, or

• you are a tenant for more than one year of a house provided by

a voluntary housing body under the rental subsidy scheme and

who wishes to return the house to the voluntary body

concerned.

If the local authority approves your application for assistance, you may

apply for one or more of the following schemes, which are briefly listed

below. Full details of the schemes may be obtained from your local

authority or from the Housing, Policy and Finance Section of the

Department of the Environment and Local Government.


8

4. Assistance from the Local Authority forthe provision of accommodation

4.1 Low cost sitesA local authority may make serviced or unserviced housing sites

available at a low cost. The local authority will decide on the cost of the

site depending on a number of factors, e.g. location, income, and

personal circumstances. The local authority may also make a financial

contribution to the cost of any specialised site development works

required. Low cost sites may also be made available to members of a

co-operative or non-profit housing group of which at least 75% of the

members are either tenants/tenant purchasers or persons whose

applications for local authority housing have been approved by the

local authority, or a person availing of a group shared ownership

project sponsored by a local authority or a housing co-operative. (See

also under the voluntary sector).

4.2 Local Authority Loans for PurchaseIf you wish to purchase a house (new or second hand) in the ordinary

way or to build a house but you cannot get a loan to meet your

requirements from a building society, bank etc., you may be eligible for

a loan from your local authority. The loan can be up to 95% of the price

of the house subject to a maximum of £50,000 (£55,000 on certain

offshore islands). The interest rate is variable in line with the typical

building society rate and includes mortgage protection cover.

4.3 Shared ownership of your home with the LocalAuthorityThis system offers home ownership in a number of steps to those who


9

cannot afford full ownership in one step in the traditional way.

Initially, ownership of the house is shared between you and the local

authority. Those who qualify for the system enjoy the benefits of home

ownership but have more affordable outgoings than under a

conventional mortgage.

If you have been approved in principle by the local authority for shared

ownership, you may select a new or second hand house or have a new

house built for occupation on a shared ownership basis. The house

must be suitable for your needs, meet certain standards and be

acceptable to the local authority.

From the start, you must purchase at least 40% of the value of the house

and rent the remaining share (60% or less) from the local authority. You

may pay for the share you are purchasing by taking out a mortgage

loan from the local authority or by contributing cash of your own. You

must normally pay a deposit of £1,000, which may be waived in certain

limited circumstances. Your deposit and the first time buyer’s new

house grant (if applicable) and the special Traveller grant of £3,000 also

go towards paying for the initial share.

Your regular outgoings will consist of the mortgage repayments in

respect of the purchase share and a rent calculated at 4.5% of the

purchase cost of the rented share, adjusted each year for inflation. A

graded subsidy towards the rent is available to shared owners whose

household income in the preceding year is £12,000 or less for


10

transactions effected before 1 January, 2000 or £16,000 for transactions

effected on or after 1 January, 2000. The outgoings on shared

ownership are lower than under an ordinary mortgage and there is no

stamp duty to pay even if the house is second-hand. Some legal costs

will be payable by the applicant in entering into a shared ownership

lease.

Example:

In the case of a second-hand house costing £70,000, the monthly

repayments in the first year (presuming you purchase a 40% share from

the start) would be as follows:

- Cost of 40% share = £28,000

(funded by a deposit of £1,000; £3,000 special grant for

Travellers and mortgage loan of £24,000)

- Mortgage repayments on £24,000 loan over 25 years @ current

interest rates = £142 per month

- Rent payable to local authority in year 1 =

£42,000 x 4.5% = £157.50 p.m.

12

- Total gross monthly repayments, i.e. exclusive of income tax

relief on the interest paid on the mortgage = £299.50


11

Any shared owner whose household income in the preceding tax year

is £12,000 or less can qualify for a rent subsidy ranging from £250 to

£1,200 per year for transactions effected before 1 January, 2000. For

transactions effected on or after 1 January, 2000 the maximum

qualifying household income is £16,000 for a rent subsidy ranging from

£1,000 to £1,600 provided the subsidy does not reduce the rent payable

to the local authority below £1 per week. The amount of the subsidy

will depend on your household income as follows:

Household Income (per year) Subsidy (per year) for shared

ownership transactions effected

on or after 1 January, 2000

£10,000 and under £1,600

£10,001 - £12,000 £1,400

£12,001 - £14,000 £1,200

£14,001 - £16,000 £1,000

For shared ownership purchases effected before 1 January, 2000 the

existing subsidy levels will apply as before.


12

Household Income (per year) Subsidy (per year) for shared

ownership transactions

effected before 1 January, 2000

£8,500 and under £1,200

£8,501 - £9,000 £1,100

£9,001 - £9,500 £925

£9,501 - £10,000 £700

£10,001 - £11,000 £450

£11,001 - £12,000 £250

4.4 Tenant Purchase SchemeIf you have been a tenant of a local authority house for at least one year

you may apply to the local authority from whom you rent your house

to purchase it either outright or by way of shared ownership.

Outright Purchase

How is the purchase price calculated?

The price of the house will be its market value, as determined by the

local authority, in its existing state of repair and condition, less

discounts. The structural condition of the house will be taken into

account but any increase in the market value due to improvements you

have made to the house will be disregarded in calculating the price.


13

What discounts are available?

You will be allowed a discount of 3% of the value of the house for each

year of tenancy (up to a maximum of 10 years) of a local authority

house plus £3,000. With 10 years tenancy, you qualify for a discount of

£24,000 on a house valued at £70,000. The special Traveller Grant of

£3,000 does not apply in this case. The net purchase price of your house

would therefore be £46,000. (Essentially it is a matter for the local

authority to decide whether it is appropriate or desirable to sell the

house, having regard to the wider implications for the estate on which

it is located.)

Shared OwnershipSee above.

4.5 Mortgage Allowance SchemeThis scheme is open to any person who satisfies one of the following

criteria:

• a tenant in a local authority house or in a house provided by a

body under the voluntary housing rental subsidy scheme (of

more than one year); or,

• a tenant purchaser of a local authority house; or,


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• a tenant who is prepared to return their house to the local

authority or voluntary body.

If one of the above requirements applies you may qualify for a

mortgage allowance, which is an added incentive designed to make

more local authority and voluntary houses available for reletting.

If you are taking out a mortgage of at least £10,000 to purchase a house

or to have a house built for yourself, you may qualify for a mortgage

allowance. If building a house, you may also qualify for a low cost site.

The mortgage allowance is an allowance of up to £4,500 paid on a

reducing basis over 5 years (i.e. 1st year - £1,400, 2nd year - £1,100, 3rd

year - £800, 4th year - £700, 5th year - £500) and is designed to ease the

transition from rent to mortgage. The allowance is paid directly to the

mortgage lender so that your mortgage repayments are reduced by the

amount of the subsidy.

Example:

On a mortgage of £50,000 over 25 years from your local authority, or

commercial lending agency, the mortgage allowance would reduce

your monthly gross repayments (before income tax relief on mortgage

interest) in the first year from approx. £296 to £180, i.e. a saving of £116

per month.

Note: The allowance paid in any year cannot exceed the amount of the

mortgage repayments. For example, if the mortgage repayments for


15

the first year come to £1,300, then the maximum allowance payable is

£1,300.

The mortgage allowance may be additional to first time buyers and

special Travellers grants, local authority loans and low cost sites

schemes. The mortgage allowance may not be combined with the

shared ownership scheme.

4.6 Local Authority MortgagesYou may qualify for a local authority loan or shared ownership scheme

if you pass an income eligibility test as follows -

Single Income Household

Multiply your gross income (before tax) in the last income tax year by

2.5 - if the result is £50,000 or less you are eligible.

Two Income Household

Multiply the gross income (before tax) of the principal (greater) earner

in the last income tax year by 2.5 and add the gross income of the lesser

earner in the last income tax year - if the result is £50,000 or less you

are eligible.

4.7 Loan and grant scheme for the purchase ofcaravans A pilot scheme of loans and grants for caravan purchase by Travellers

was introduced in February, 2000. Briefly, loans up to a maximum


16

amount of £5,000 to be repaid over a period of up to five years will be

made available by local authorities. The grant element of the scheme is

a once off grant, calculated at 10% of the purchase price of the caravan,

subject to a maximum of £500, is also available from local authorities

for Travellers purchasing a caravan for the first time.

Loans for caravan purchase - general conditions of thescheme • a loan up to a maximum of £5,000 will be available for the

purchase of a new/second-hand caravan

• the loan will be repaid over a period ranging from 1 - 5 years.

The amount of loan sanctioned will be dependent on each

applicant’s ability to pay, which will be determined by the local

authority. "Top up" loans will be at the discretion of the local

authority, but it is envisaged that these will only be granted in

exceptional circumstances

• applicants must satisfy the local authority that they are in need

of accommodation and their circumstances are such that they

cannot provide it from their own resources

• the caravan must be purchased from a reputable supplier

registered for VAT purposes. The local authority and the

applicant must satisfy themselves that the caravan to be

purchased represents value for money, and that it meets the


17

needs of the Traveller household concerned, before the loan is

sanctioned. The granting of assistance by the local authority

shall not imply any warranty on the part of the authority in

relation to the state of repair or the condition of the caravan or

in relation to its fitness for use as habitable accommodation

• the local authority will satisfy itself that the existing sub-

standard caravan is disposed of, where relevant

• the loan will be repaid at regular intervals i.e. weekly, monthly

etc. The preferred method of repayment of the loan is through

the Household budget scheme. It will remain a matter for the

local authority concerned, following consultation with the

applicant, as to alternative arrangements for repayment of the

loan

• the Traveller concerned must be assessed by the local authority

as being in need of accommodation. Travellers normally

resident outside the State will not be eligible to apply for the

loan scheme

• the normal local authority house purchase interest rate shall

apply to the loan

• the Traveller applicant will contribute at least 10% of the

purchase price of the caravan


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• access to future loans will be denied where an applicant

defaults on the loan repayments. The local authority will take

appropriate steps to recover the outstanding loan

• in the event of cases of extreme hardship, the local authority

may, at its discretion, extend the period for the repayment of

the loan and/or reduce the amount of each repayment to assist

the Travellers concerned.

Grants for Caravan Purchase - general conditions of thescheme • a once off grant (calculated at 10% of the purchase price of the

caravan, subject to a maximum of £500) will be offset against

the cost of a caravan for a first time purchaser. This grant will

be deducted from the loan amount repayable to the local

authority, by the Traveller, where relevant

• the grant will not be payable retrospectively, i.e. it shall only be

payable from the date of introduction of the scheme

• in the case of a joint application for a grant, if one of the

applicants has obtained the grant previously, then this will

render the other applicant ineligible to claim the grant.


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A local authority may, at its discretion, advance a loan for house

improvements and repairs in one or more of the following

circumstances:

• where there is a need to improve a tenant’s home or to extend

(to cater for a disabled member of the family or an additional

person)

• an application for local authority housing has been approved

by the local authority, and

• the carrying out of the works will satisfy the tenants housing

needs and result in their removal from the housing waiting list,

• an existing local authority tenant or a tenant purchaser or a

tenant for more than one year of a house provided by a

voluntary housing body under the rental subsidy scheme, who

wishes to return their present house and move to a privately

owned house requiring improvement works.

(The following are a brief description of the types of loans available

subject to certain criteria being met)


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5. Local Authority Loans forImprovement and Repairs

5.1 Local Authority Loans for House ImprovementFor house improvements, maximum loans of £15,000 (£20,000 on

certain offshore islands), where the loan is secured by a mortgage on

the house and £6,000, where the loan is not secured, may be available

from the local authority. The interest rate on loans is variable, in line

with the typical building society rate.

5.2 Local Authority Improvement Works in lieuA local authority may improve or extend a privately owned house to

eliminate defects or to provide additional accommodation where this is

necessary to eliminate overcrowding or to accommodate a person not

at present residing in the house. The scheme does not apply to

improvements to private rented houses. There is a charge in respect of

any such work carried out by the local authority. The cost of works

that may be carried out to a house is subject to a limit of £22,000, or

£25,000 in the case of certain offshore islands.

Example:

The charge would be calculated, in much the same way as differential

rents for local authority tenants, on the basis of your income and the

cost of the works carried out in accordance with the following formula:

weekly differential rent x cost of works

£50,000


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5.3 Disabled Persons GrantsUnder this scheme, a local authority may make a grant for the

provision of additional accommodation or necessary works of

adaptation to your house to meet the needs of a member of the

household who is disabled. There is no income limit for eligibility. The

grant may be up to 90% of the approved cost of the works in the case

of private houses and up to the full cost of the works in the case of

houses let by the local authority. Normally the grant will not exceed

£14,000.

5.4 Overcrowded ConditionsA local authority may be able to build an extension to the existing

house in lieu of transferring you to a larger house, or in the case of a

person on the local authority’s housing waiting list, the authority may

decide to extend a house belonging to the family of the said housing

applicant, if in so doing, it removes that person from the housing

waiting list.


22

If you are unemployed or working part time for less than 30 hours a

week and are in receipt of a social welfare or health board payment,

assistance towards the rent of private accommodation may be available

under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme. Decisions in

relation to assistance rests with the local Health Board and applications,

which are subject to a means test, are dealt with by the Community

Care Service at your local Health Centre (addresses and telephone

numbers are listed under the Health Boards in the State Services

Section towards the front of the telephone directory).


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6. Rented Accommodation

Local authorities are the main providers of accommodation for people

who are in need and who cannot afford it from their own resources. To

be considered for local authority accommodation, you should apply to

your local authority. Applicants must be accepted by the local

authority as being in need of accommodation. Rents are related to your

ability to pay.

7.1 Standard HousingHouses are allocated to applicants in order of priority, taking all

circumstances into account. Houses may be new, e.g. on a new housing

estate, or second hand if allocated from existing stock.

7.2 Residential caravan parksThese residential caravan parks are for longer term or permanent stays.

Depending on site size, location, number of bays, etc. a local authority

may provide community facilities, e.g. play areas, pre-school and,

where appropriate, areas for low level of economic activity.

7.3 Transient or Temporary Halting SitesLocal authorities will develop a national network of transient or short

stay halting sites. Temporary sites may also be necessary pending the

provision of more permanent accommodation.


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7. Direct Provision of accommodation bythe Local Authority

7.4 Group Housing SchemesAlternative housing can be arranged for groups of Traveller families

enabling you to live in a house while meeting the special needs of

Traveller culture.


25

Voluntary organisations that wish to become involved in the provision

of rented accommodation for Travellers are supported by local

authorities and the Department of the Environment and Local

Government, as described below.

8.1 Capital Assistance SchemeUnder this scheme, approved voluntary bodies may provide

accommodation in either homes or serviced caravan parks to meet the

special accommodation needs of Travellers. Funding of up to 90% (95%

in the case of projects for the homeless) of the capital costs of a project

is available subject to an overall unit cost limit of £53,000 for each one

or two person housing unit and £63,000 for each family type houses. A

higher level of capital assistance is available in the administrative areas

of the five County Borough Corporations and in the administrative

counties of Fingal, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and South Dublin,

subject to an overall cost limit of £75,000 for the one or two person unit

and £90,000 for the family type houses.

Capital funding of 100% of the cost of providing residential caravan

parks for Travellers is also available subject to maximum funding of


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8. Voluntary Organisations

£90,000 per bay in the eight local authority areas listed above and

£63,000 per bay in other areas.

A special level of capital assistance is available for providing residential

caravan parks on certain offshore islands subject to an overall unit cost

limit of £75,000.

8.2 Grant for Communal FacilitiesSuitable proposals for the provision of communal kitchen/dining

facilities, crèches, laundries, meeting rooms etc., where work

commenced on or after 1 July, 1997, may qualify for a grant equivalent

to £3,500 for each unit of living accommodation subject to a maximum

of 90% of the cost. The funding for this grant is provided by the

National Lottery.

8.3 Rental Subsidy SchemeUnder this scheme, approved voluntary housing bodies may provide

accommodation for renting, particularly aimed at the needs of low

income families. The accommodation is financed by means of a loan

from the housing authority and the units cost limits are £63,000; or

£90,000 in the eight local authorities listed above. A special level of

assistance is available on certain offshore islands subject to a maximum

limit of £75,000. A minimum of 75% of the accommodation units must

be let by the voluntary bodies to persons whose applications for local

authority housing have been approved by the authority and whose

total household income in the previous income tax year did not exceed


27

£12,000. No income limit applies to the balance of applicants. A rental

subsidy is payable by the local authority to the approved body in

respect of qualified households. This subsidy is recouped by the

Department of the Environment and Local Government.

Site CostsWhere site costs are included in a voluntary housing project, the unit

cost limits will be increased by £20,000 or the cost of the site, whichever

is the lesser, in the five county borough areas, as well as in the

administrative areas of Fingal, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and South

County Dublin. For projects outside these areas, the limit will be

increased by £15,000 or the cost of the site, whichever is the lesser.

8.4 RentsRents are related to your ability to pay, taking account of household

earnings and circumstances. With effect from the subsidy year

commencing 1 July, 1997, the rent on household income is calculated as

follows:

Weekly minimum of £5 + 18p for each £1 of weekly household income

over £80 per week in the previous tax year - £1 per week reduction for

each dependant child residing in the house.


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Example:

Income and number of Weekly rent

child dependants

£90 + 1 child = £5.80 (i.e. £5 + (10 x 18p)- £1)

£120 + 2 children = £10.20

£150 + 2 children = £15.60

£200 + 3 children = £23.60

Note: The minimum weekly rent may not be less than £5 per week.

Additional rent will be payable if other persons with income are living

in the accommodation.

8.5 Low Cost SitesLocal authorities may provide housing sites at low cost to assist

persons in need to provide their own housing through the voluntary

housing schemes, special group shared ownership projects or housing

co-operatives.

8.6 Group Shared Ownership ProjectsLocal authorities or housing co-operatives may sponsor housing

schemes specifically for persons who wish to avail of the Shared

Ownership System. In such cases, low cost sites can be made available

by the local authority in respect of each house in the scheme whether


29

or not the prospective shared owner qualified on an individual basis

for the low cost housing sites scheme.

8.7 Housing Co-OpsThe low cost sites scheme is also available to a member of a co-

operative or non-profit housing group of which at least 75% of the

members are either tenants/tenant purchasers or persons whose

applications for local authority housing have been approved by the

local authority, or a person availing of a group shared ownership

project sponsored by a local authority or a housing co-operative.

If you think that the sites scheme (with or without the other options

available) provides an opportunity to promote a co-operative or

voluntary housing project in your area, you should in the first instance

contact your local authority. They will advise you in every way

possible and put you into contact with other agencies, such as the Irish

Council for Social Housing, the representative body of the voluntary

housing movement, or NABCo, the National Association of Building

Co-operatives (see below).

8.8 Approved Voluntary BodiesTo receive support under the capital assistance scheme or the rental

subsidy scheme a voluntary body must be approved under section 6 of

the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992. Bodies, which may

be considered for approval, are as follows:


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(a) Limited Companies formed by guarantee of their members

and without shareholders, and registered under the

Companies Acts 1963 - 1990

(b) Societies registered under the Industrial and Provident

Societies Acts 1893 - 1978

(c) Trusts incorporated under the Charities Acts.

The body must have as an object the provision of housing, the relief of

housing need or poverty or hardship. A company or society must have

provisions in its memorandum of association or registered rules, as the

case may be, prohibiting the distribution of any surplus, profit, bonus

or dividend to members and requiring that the assets of the body be

applied solely towards its objects.

Applications for approval must be supported by:

(a) the memorandum and articles of association, rules or the

constitution of the body seeking approval together with a copy

of its certificate of incorporation or registration

(b) information on its present financial position

(c) a description of its activities, plans and programmes


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(d) the names and addresses of its officers and of the members of

its governing body or board of directors, the address of its

registered office and the address of the secretary, if different

from the registered office.

The Department of the Environment and Local Government and the

housing authority should be advised immediately by an approved

body of any change in the address of its registered office or in the name

or address of its secretary and, on request, be provided with the names

and addresses of its directors.

Organisations engaged in commercial or other risk taking activities

should, in addition to (a) to (d) also furnish information on the nature

of the management structure and control procedures for the proposed

housing project.

Approved bodies must ensure that adequate accounting procedures are

adopted to monitor capital expenditure and income in respect of the

initial development of their housing project and thereafter maintain a

separate current income and expenditure account (including rental

income) in respect of ongoing operational costs. These accounting

records should be open for inspection by the housing authority, as

required.

8.9 The Rural Resettlement ProgrammeFamilies currently living in rented local authority homes or on the


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waiting lists and who wish to move to selected rural locations may

qualify for the programme. Qualifying families will be provided with

rented accommodation or with subsidised loans to purchase their new

homes. They may also be eligible to apply for a mortgage allowance.

Under the programme, the package of arrangements for loan funding

will provide a maximum loan of £38,000, of which -

• the Bank of Ireland will provide a maximum of £14,000

• the local authority will provide a mortgage up to a maximum

of £17,000

• Rural Resettlement Ireland will provide a loan of £7,000, which

is non-repayable, as long as the residence criteria are met

• credit criteria apply.

The mortgage loan portion of the package (up to £31,000) will be

repayable over 20 years at a fixed rate of 5% for the first 10 years and

7.5% or the then prevailing variable rate for the remainder of the

mortgage.

Families interested in the programme should apply for full details to

Rural Resettlement Ireland. All eligible applications must meet the

local authority guidelines on house purchase loans. The houses


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selected must be approved by Rural Resettlement Ireland and vetted by

the local authority.

8.10 Irish Council for Social HousingThe Irish Council for Social Housing (The Housing Centre) 50 Merrion

Square East, Dublin 2, Telephone 01 661 8334, has a representative and

co-ordinating role in relation to non-profit and voluntary housing

bodies. Information and advice on the formation of housing bodies is

available from the Council and organisations seeking a role in these

areas are strongly advised to contact the Council. This includes

assistance with legal incorporation, a model constitution, and guidance

for affiliated bodies about management, rents, budgets accounts, etc.

8.11 National Association of Building Co-OperativesSociety LtdThe National Association of Building Co-operatives (NABCO) Society

Ltd., 50 Merrion Square East, Dublin 2, Telephone (01) 6612877

functions as the central representative, promotional, organising,

educating, advisory and training body for housing co-operatives in

Ireland.

It is concerned with the relief of housing needs and the provision and

management of housing, based on the co-operative organisation

principles, for non-profit community benefit. NABCo organises the

development of co-operative housing projects directly itself and in

conjunction with affiliated housing co-operative societies.


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Information Leaflets• Local Authority Housing

• Voluntary Housing

• Improvement Works In Lieu Of Local Authority Housing

• Shared Ownership System

• Local Authority Loans For House Purchase And Improvement

• Low Cost Housing Sites

• Mortgage Allowance Scheme

• Disabled Persons Grants

• Tenant Purchase Scheme

• Charter for Rented Housing

Also available are:

• A Guide To Planning Permission

• Making A Planning Application

• Commenting On A Planning Application

• Building A House - The Planning Issues

• Doing Work Around The House - The Planning Issue

• Agriculture And Farm Development - The Planning Issues

• Planning For The Business Person

• The Development Plan

• Environmental Impact Assessment


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APPENDIX I

• Making A Planning Appeal

• A Guide To The Building Regulations

All of the above are available from your local authority, or from

Housing Policy and Finance Section, Department of the Environment

and Local Government, Custom House, Dublin 1 (tel. (01) 888 2000)

LoCall: 1890 20 20 21.


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Further Information

For any further information on any of the above options you may

contact your relevant local authority and/or the other authorities listed

below.

Useful Addresses and Phone Numbers

"First Time Purchasers New House Grants - HAI Explanatory

Memorandum" is available from the Department of the Environment

and Local Government, Housing Grants Section, Government Offices,

Ballina, Co. Mayo. Telephone (096) 70677 Fax. (096) 70680.

LoCall: 1890 20 20 21.

"Annual Housing Statistics Bulletins," are available from the

Government Publications Sales Office, Molesworth St., Dublin 2.

Telephone (01) 661 3111.

Guidelines on: "Residential Caravan Parks for Travellers"

"Basic Services & Facilities for Caravan Parks Pending

the Provision of Permanent Accommodation" and

"Site Selection"


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APPENDIX II

are available from the Department of the Environment and Local

Government, Custom House, Dublin 1. Telephone (01) 888 2000.

LoCall: 1890 20 20 21

Gach eolas faoi deontais i leith tithe sna limistéir Ghaeltachta on Roinn

Ealaíon, Cultúir agus Gaeltachta, Na Forbacha, Gaillimh. Teileafón

(091) 592555

Full details on the rural resettlement programmes are available from

Rural Resettlement Ireland, Kilbaha, Kilrush, Co. Clare. Telephone

(065) 9058034.


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